PENNDOT REMINDS MOTORISTS AND TRUCKERS TO SHARE THE HIGHWAY
Offers Highway Safety Tips
Indiana, PA (November 6) - Trucks play a critical role in the operation of our economy and with its "Keystone" location in the Northeast U.S., Pennsylvania is home to steadily growing truck traffic. Being aware of basic truck operations and understanding why trucks do what they do are important to ensuring everyone has a safe experience on Pennsylvania highways.
Here are some simple safety tips:
• Motorists need to realize a truck's limited stopping ability. Even on dry roads, it takes the length of a football field to stop the average loaded tractor-trailer truck going 55 mph. Passenger cars stop in about 60 yards.
• Know your "No-Zone." The NO- ZONE is the area around trucks where crashes most often occur. When following and passing a truck, if you can't see the driver or his side mirrors, the driver can't see you. You are in one of the truck driver's many blind spots. Be safe and be seen!
• Don't be fooled. Because of its large size, a truck coming toward a motorist from a distance can appear to be moving much slower than it really is.
• When passing a truck, do it quickly and safely. Don't linger along side in the trucker's blind spot. Never pull in front of a truck and then slow down.
• When you turn on your wipers, turn on your headlights. Use your headlights to be seen.
• Keep to the right when a truck is passing you. Stay within the right side of your lane, giving the truck ample space to pass safely.
• Keep your head if you're being tailgated. Don't panic. Keep your vehicle speed constant, and don't speed up. Most trucks will speed up to help maintain their speed on an approaching hill.
• Always keep a cushion of safety between you and the vehicle in front of you. Use the four-second rule. Choose an object ahead, such as a road sign, and allow four seconds to elapse from the time the vehicle in front of you passes the object until you do. |